CN107438580B

CN107438580B - Device and container for preparing a beverage in a transparent chamber

Info

Publication number: CN107438580B
Application number: CN201680011938.0A
Authority: CN
Inventors: D·佩尔斯曼; S·范德凯尔克霍夫; J·皮劳德; N·戴维斯
Original assignee: Anheuser Busch InBev SA
Current assignee: Anheuser Busch InBev SA
Priority date: 2015-02-27
Filing date: 2016-02-26
Publication date: 2020-03-10
Anticipated expiration: 2036-02-26
Also published as: MX2017010484A; EP3261981A1; CN107438580A; KR20170134329A; US20160251606A1; RU2017128115A; CA2977475A1; AU2020267197A1; BR112017018147A2; WO2016135681A1; AR103792A1; US20180230414A1; RU2017128115A3; JP2018512901A; RU2723062C2; JP6923445B2; AU2016224884A1; UA123004C2; US20180030392A1

Abstract

The present invention describes a device (100) for preparing and dispensing a beverage such as beer, characterized by a transparent window (110), the transparent window (110) allowing a user of the device to observe the beverage in a chamber of the device while the beverage is being prepared. The chamber in which the beverage is prepared may be an integral part of the apparatus or a disposable chamber which may be removed and replaced with a new disposable chamber after one or more servings of the beverage have been prepared in the disposable chamber. The apparatus may have a method for cleaning the chamber, or the chamber may be self-cleaning. If the chamber for preparing the beverage is a disposable container, it may have the concentrated beverage already prepackaged in the container, and the shell of the container may prevent oxygen and light from passing through the container and affecting the concentrated beverage contained therein.

Description

Device and container for preparing a beverage in a transparent chamber

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an apparatus and a container for preparing a beverage in a transparent chamber, which allows a user to observe the beverage in the chamber while preparing the beverage and before the beverage is dispensed. More specifically, the present invention relates to: a) an apparatus for preparing a beverage comprising a housing, a liquid source and a beverage dispenser, wherein at least a portion of the exterior of the apparatus is transparent and at least a transparent portion of the exterior of the apparatus comprises a transparent wall of a chamber for preparing the beverage; and b) a disposable container for preparing a beverage comprising a housing and a first compartment containing a concentrated beverage, wherein a first portion of the housing is transparent. The chamber in the appliance for preparing the beverage may be an integral part of the housing, or alternatively a disposable chamber which may be removed from the appliance and replaced after one or more servings of the beverage are prepared.

Background

In recent years, various apparatuses for preparing and dispensing beverages have been developed and sold. Some of these methods and apparatuses allow a user to prepare a beverage, such as coffee or tea, as desired in a single serving. These devices vary widely in complexity, size and price and can be purchased for use in the home or office.

Many of these devices allow a user to prepare a hot brewed beverage, such as coffee or tea. Typically, these devices function by heating water to a temperature near boiling, and then passing the heated water through coffee grounds or tea leaves. In some devices, the coffee powder or tea leaves are contained in a pre-packaged container specifically designed for the device. After the coffee or tea is brewed and the beverage is dispensed from the machine, a user of the device may add an ingredient such as milk, cream, sugar or honey to the beverage.

However, these existing devices suffer from a number of disadvantages. They are generally limited to a particular type of hot beverage, such as coffee or tea, as described above. Recently, the beverage world has seen a proliferation of very popular customized flavored beverages, such as small brewers brewed beers that are specialized in mixing complex combinations of flavors and components, spirits that are infused with fruits and spices, sports drinks that provide taste and nutrition, and zero-calorie soft drinks that incorporate new components with traditional flavors. Existing equipment for preparing beverages simply fails to meet the needs and desires for preparing such customizable beverages. For example, there is no existing device that allows a user to create a single serving of beer on demand.

Furthermore, a large part of the appeal of such beverages is not only produced by their taste, but also by their visual appearance. When a beverage is prepared, for example in a french press, the desirability of a cup of tea or coffee is significantly improved by having one see that the flavor components exude from the coffee powder or tea leaves and inject hot water to prepare the beverage. Also, it is clearly more visually appealing to look at a pint glass filled with amber beer poured from a tap than to deliver beer in an opaque container only.

Due to the important role of this visual presentation in beverage preparation, there is still a need for a beverage dispensing device that allows the user of the device to observe their beverage while preparing the beverage so that this visual component is not lost. However, the manufacture and design of such devices presents challenges. For example, a device having a chamber that allows a user to view a serving of beer being prepared must ensure that the chamber remains clean and hygienic each time a new serving of beer is dispensed. The apparatus and container of the present invention are intended to meet these needs and challenges.

Summary of The Invention

In certain embodiments, the present invention relates to a device for preparing a beverage comprising a housing, at least one liquid source and a dispenser for dispensing a beverage, wherein at least a portion of the exterior of the device is transparent and at least a transparent portion of the exterior of the device comprises a transparent wall of a chamber for preparing the beverage.

In certain embodiments of the invention, the transparent portion of the exterior of the device is rectangular. In other embodiments of the invention, the transparent portion is circular.

In certain embodiments of the invention, the chamber for preparing the beverage is connected to a dispenser for dispensing the beverage.

In certain embodiments of the invention, the at least one liquid source is a source of carbonated liquid. In certain other embodiments of the present invention, the at least one liquid source is a source of bubble free liquid (still liquid).

In certain embodiments of the invention, the chamber for preparing the beverage is an integral part of the housing. In certain other embodiments of the invention, the chamber for preparing the beverage is connected to a mixing chamber for mixing the liquid and the concentrated beverage.

In certain embodiments of the invention, the liquid and concentrated beverage are mixed in the chamber for preparing the beverage. In certain other embodiments of the present invention, the chamber for preparing the beverage comprises a first chamber and a second chamber, and the first chamber and the second chamber are separated by a partition. In other embodiments of the invention, the partition is opaque, the liquid and the concentrated beverage mix in the first chamber, and the transparent portion is a transparent wall of the second chamber.

In certain embodiments of the invention, the chamber for preparing the beverage is self-cleaning. In other embodiments of the invention, the chamber includes a biocidal coating. In other embodiments of the invention, the biocidal coating contains a metal, such as copper or silver.

In some embodiments of the invention, the apparatus for preparing a beverage further comprises at least one means for cleaning said chamber for preparing a beverage. In other embodiments of the invention, at least one means for cleaning the chamber cleans the chamber by heating, rinsing or sterilizing the chamber. In other embodiments of the invention, the at least one means for cleaning the chamber cleans the chamber by sterilizing the chamber with ultraviolet light.

In certain embodiments of the invention, the transparent wall of the chamber for preparing the beverage is composed of a material selected from the group consisting of glass, plastic and polymer.

In certain embodiments of the invention, the chamber for preparing the beverage and the dispenser face a single face of the apparatus.

In certain embodiments of the invention, the chamber for preparing the beverage is a disposable chamber that can be removed from the apparatus and replaced with a new disposable chamber. In certain other embodiments of the present invention, the disposable chamber contains a concentrated beverage.

In certain embodiments of the present invention, the apparatus for preparing a beverage further comprises a piercing device for piercing the exterior of the disposable chamber to allow the liquid to enter the disposable chamber.

In certain embodiments of the invention, the disposable chamber is capable of preparing a single serving of a beverage. In other embodiments of the invention, the disposable chamber is capable of preparing multiple servings of beverage.

In certain embodiments, the present invention relates to a disposable container for preparing a beverage comprising a housing and a first compartment containing a concentrated beverage, wherein at least a first portion of the housing of the disposable container is transparent. In certain other embodiments of the present invention, the disposable container further comprises a second chamber, wherein the first chamber and the second chamber are separated by an opaque partition; and the first transparent portion of the housing is a wall of the second chamber. In other embodiments of the present invention, the disposable container further comprises a third chamber comprising at least one flavor.

In certain embodiments of the invention, the concentrated beverage is a solid or liquid concentrated beverage. In certain other embodiments of the present invention, the concentrated beverage is a carbonated concentrated beverage.

In certain embodiments of the invention, at least the second portion of the housing is a permeable portion. In certain other embodiments of the present invention, the second portion of the housing is permeable to liquid.

In certain embodiments of the invention, the first chamber further comprises an oxygen scavenger.

In certain embodiments of the invention, the housing blocks light transmission into the disposable container.

In certain embodiments of the invention, the housing is impermeable to air. In certain other embodiments of the invention, the outer shell is impermeable to oxygen.

In certain embodiments of the invention, the disposable container further comprises a removable opaque material covering the first transparent portion of the outer shell. In certain other embodiments of the invention, the removable opaque material is a film or foil.

Brief Description of Drawings

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus for preparing a beverage, with a transparent portion allowing a user to view the exterior of the apparatus inside a chamber in the apparatus for preparing a beverage.

Fig. 2 is a front view of the apparatus for preparing a beverage shown in fig. 1.

Detailed Description

As mentioned above, the present invention relates to an apparatus and a container for preparing a beverage in a transparent chamber. As will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art, such devices and containers allow a user to view the beverage in the chamber as it is being prepared and before it is dispensed.

One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that various embodiments of the present invention may be used to prepare a wide variety of beverages. For example, the beverage prepared by the apparatus and container of the invention may be any beverage selected from the group consisting of: beer (including ale and lager), malt-based beverages, cider, wine, spirits, shakes, soft drinks, juices, coffee or tea. In some preferred embodiments of the invention, the beverage is an alcoholic or non-alcoholic beer, such as an alcoholic or non-alcoholic ale, alcoholic lager or non-alcoholic lager. In certain other preferred embodiments of the present invention, the beverage is a malt-based beverage other than beer.

For the purposes of the present invention, the term "beer" is defined as a beverage produced by brewing and fermenting a starch source in water using yeast. Suitable starch sources include, but are not limited to, grains such as barley, wheat, corn, rice, sorghum, and millet. Other starch sources, such as tapioca, sugarcane and potato, can also be used as starch sources to produce beer. Similarly, various yeast strains can be used to ferment "beer", including but not limited to, the eremothecium (ale yeast) strain ("top fermenting" yeast) and the laggera (lager yeast) strain ("bottom fermenting" yeast)).

For the purposes of the present invention, the term "beer" includes, but is not limited to, a particular subset of beverages defined as "beer" according to a particular national law, regulation or standard. For example, german beer purification (Reinheitsgebot) states that beverages having components other than water, malt and hops cannot be considered "beer", but for the purposes of the present invention the term "beer" is not limited to such components. Similarly, for the purposes of the present invention, the term "beer" does not mean or imply a limitation on the alcohol content of the beverage.

In some preferred embodiments of the invention, the beverage is prepared by an apparatus. In these preferred embodiments, the apparatus comprises: a) a housing containing at least some components of the apparatus; b) at least one liquid source; and c) a dispenser for dispensing the beverage prepared by the apparatus. In these preferred embodiments, at least a portion of the exterior of the apparatus is transparent, and the at least a transparent portion of the exterior of the apparatus is a transparent portion of a wall of the chamber for preparing the beverage. The transparent "window" allows a user of the device to view the beverage while the beverage is being prepared within the device.

In some embodiments of the invention, the chamber for preparing the beverage comprising at least one transparent window may be an integral part of the housing of the device. In other embodiments of the invention, the chamber for preparing the beverage (comprising the transparent window) is not an integral part of the housing of the device, but is removable from the device. In some embodiments, the removable chamber is a reusable chamber that can be removed, cleaned, and then reinstalled in the device. In other embodiments, the removable chamber is a disposable chamber that can be removed from the device, disposed of, and replaced with a new disposable chamber.

At least one transparent viewing window may be located at various locations on the device. In some preferred embodiments of the invention, the transparent window is located at the front of the device and directly faces the user operating the device. However, in other embodiments of the invention, the window may be located elsewhere, such as on the top of the device or on a side of the device. In some embodiments of the invention, there can be multiple transparent windows located at multiple locations on the device, e.g., a first transparent window on the top of the device and a second transparent window on the front of the device.

In various embodiments of the invention, the transparent window of the beverage preparation chamber may be shaped differently. The transparent window can be circular, oval, square, hexagonal or other polygonal shape. The transparent window can be a three-dimensional structure-for example, in some exemplary embodiments, the beverage preparation chamber is spherical, and the transparent window can be a portion of the sphere, such as a hemisphere. In other embodiments, the beverage preparation chamber is a box and the transparent window is two or more walls of the box. Other shapes for the transparent window are known to those skilled in the art.

In some embodiments of the invention, the transparent portion may be the entire wall of the chamber for preparing the beverage, but in other embodiments the transparent window may be only a portion of the wall of the beverage preparation chamber. In certain embodiments, a portion (or the entirety) of the plurality of walls of the chamber for preparing the beverage is a transparent window.

In some embodiments of the invention, the transparent window for viewing the chamber for preparing the beverage is made of transparent glass. In other embodiments of the invention, the transparent window is comprised of a transparent plastic. In other embodiments of the invention, the transparent window is comprised of a transparent polymer.

As mentioned above, in some embodiments of the invention, the chamber for preparing the beverage is a reusable chamber that can be removed, cleaned and then reinstalled in the apparatus. However, in some preferred embodiments of the invention (including embodiments in which the chamber is an integral part of the housing of the apparatus and embodiments in which the chamber is removable from the apparatus), the chamber is a self-cleaning chamber.

The self-cleaning chamber may utilize various different methods (or combinations of methods) to keep the chamber for preparing the beverage clean and hygienic. In some of these embodiments of the invention, the self-cleaning chamber comprises an antimicrobial film or coating on a transparent viewing window. The antimicrobial film or coating may be comprised of, for example, a polymer having quaternary amine functional groups.

In some embodiments of the invention, the self-cleaning chamber includes a biocidal coating on the walls of the container. In some embodiments, the biocidal coating contains a metal having antibacterial properties, such as copper, silver, gold, titanium dioxide, or gallium. For example, the coating may incorporate particles of silver or copper, such as nanoparticles. In some embodiments of the invention, the chamber may be coated with a non-stick or non-wetting coating, such as Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), which prevents liquid (e.g., the prepared beverage itself) from adhering to the chamber walls and remaining in the chamber even after the beverage is dispensed. The non-stick or non-wetting hydrophobic coating may be applied by thermal spraying of a metal, ceramic or polymer (e.g., PTFE).

When the contact angle of the liquid (i.e. the prepared beverage) with the surface of the chamber wall is larger than 90 degrees, a hydrophobic non-wetting effect is produced. If the contact angle is greater than 150 degrees, the surface is said to be "superhydrophobic" and droplets of liquid tend to roll off the chamber walls (an effect known as the "lotus effect", named for the self-cleaning and superhydrophobic leaves of a lotus). In some embodiments of the invention, the chamber walls are superhydrophobic surfaces having micro-scale or nano-scale topographical structures on the surfaces. The micro-or nano-patterned topology may be fabricated, for example, using a molding, etching, or engraving (including laser engraving) process. In some embodiments, the superhydrophobic surface is a superhydrophobic coating, such as a manganese oxide polystyrene nanocomposite, a zinc oxide polystyrene nanocomposite, precipitated calcium carbonate, a carbon nanotube coating, or a silica nanocoating.

In some embodiments of the invention, the self-cleaning chamber utilizes one or more cleaning devices to clean the chamber. The cleaning device may heat the chamber to kill microorganisms, flush the chamber with pressurized fluid, or sterilize the chamber. For example, in a preferred embodiment, the chamber is cleaned by a device that emits short wavelength ultraviolet radiation to kill or inactivate microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, and molds. In this embodiment of the invention, the cleaning device is a mercury vapor lamp that emits ultraviolet radiation at biocidal wavelengths.

In another embodiment of the invention, the means for cleaning the chamber is a flushing means which maintains the fluid pressure in the beverage chamber at a steady level for the first 90% of the duration of the mixing and dispensing time of the beverage. However, during the last 10% of this duration, the flushing device raises the fluid pressure to a higher level. Once the beverage is fully dispensed, the flushing means raises the fluid pressure to a higher level, ensuring that all liquid has been flushed from the chamber.

In some preferred embodiments of the invention, the chamber for preparing the beverage is connected to a dispenser for dispensing the beverage, thereby allowing the prepared beverage to flow from the chamber into the dispenser. In these embodiments of the invention, the dispenser for dispensing the beverage prepared by the apparatus may be, for example, any of a keg tap, a pour spout or a spout.

In some embodiments of the invention, the beverage is dispensed from the dispenser immediately after the beverage is prepared in the chamber, without the user having to take any further action. However, in other embodiments of the invention, the beverage is dispensed from the dispenser when the user takes action to cause the device to dispense the beverage (e.g., presses a button or pulls a mouthpiece handle or other methods known to those skilled in the art).

In some embodiments of the invention, the chamber for preparing the beverage is connected to a mixing chamber in which liquid from at least one liquid source is mixed with the concentrated beverage, and the mixture flowing from the mixing chamber then flows into the chamber for preparing the beverage. In other embodiments of the invention, liquid from at least one liquid source is mixed with the concentrated beverage in the chamber for preparing the beverage.

In some embodiments of the invention, the liquid from the at least one liquid source is water. The water may be carbonated or non-carbonated. In other embodiments of the invention, the liquid from the at least one liquid source is the base liquid of the additive component. The base liquid may be an alcohol-containing or alcohol-free liquid, a carbonated or non-carbonated liquid, or various combinations thereof. In some embodiments, alcohol-containing liquids may be used as a base liquid, such as beer (including ale and lager), cider, wine, malt-based beverages, fermented beverages, cider-based beverages, spirits, and the like. In other embodiments, the alcohol-free type of these various types of liquids may be used as the base liquid. The base liquid may also be a non-alcoholic liquid, such as beer, fruit juice, syrup, carbonated or non-carbonated flavoured water, carbonated or non-carbonated soft drinks, coffee, tea, milk, plant extracts and the like.

In some embodiments of the invention, after mixing the liquid from the at least one liquid source with the concentrated beverage to prepare the beverage, the beverage is dispensed from the dispenser without further carbonation. However, in certain other embodiments of the present invention, the liquid from the at least one liquid source is bubble free liquid and, after mixing the bubble free liquid with the concentrated beverage to prepare one or more servings of beverage, the beverage is carbonated prior to dispensing the beverage from the dispenser. Similarly, in other embodiments of the invention, the liquid from the at least one liquid source is a carbonated liquid, and after mixing the carbonated liquid with the concentrated beverage to prepare one or more servings of the beverage, the beverage is further carbonated prior to dispensing the beverage from the dispenser.

In some embodiments of the invention, the concentrated beverage is delivered to the apparatus in a container. The container containing the concentrated beverage may take many different forms: in various embodiments of the invention, the container may be any of a pod, a bag, a capsule, a bottle, a cylinder, a cartridge, or an equivalent thereof. The container may be made of: plastic (including but not limited to polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or high density polyethylene), metal such as steel, stainless steel, or aluminum, or other materials such as glass, ceramic, composite, or other polymers.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that a variety of beverages may be concentrated, pressurized and packaged in the containers of the present invention. For example, the concentrated beverage of the present invention may be alcoholic or non-alcoholic beer (including ale and lager), cider, wine, malt-based beverage, fermented beverage, cider-based beverage, spirit, fruit juice, syrup, carbonated or non-carbonated soft drink, coffee or tea.

In some preferred embodiments of the invention, the chamber for preparing the beverage is divided into two parts-a first chamber and a second chamber-by a partition. In some of these embodiments of the invention, the divider is opaque and the transparent viewing "window" is a wall of the second chamber. In these exemplary embodiments, the concentrated beverage and the liquid are mixed together in the first chamber to form the beverage, which then flows into the second chamber. A user can see the prepared beverage in the second chamber through the transparent viewing window, but the opaque partition or barrier prevents the user from viewing the first chamber. In these embodiments, when the beverage is completely mixed, the partition may be pierced or torn, allowing the beverage to flow into the second chamber where a user of the apparatus can observe the prepared beverage.

In other embodiments of the invention, the chamber may comprise a third chamber portion, a fourth chamber portion, etc., with further dividers or barriers defining the boundaries of these chambers. For example, the third chamber may include a flavouring ingredient for flavouring the beverage after it has been mixed in the first chamber, or a foaming agent for creating a desired foam top on beer mixed in the first chamber. The beverage may flow into the third chamber after mixing in the first chamber and then from the third chamber into the second chamber so that a user may view the prepared beverage before it is dispensed.

As mentioned above, the chamber for preparing the beverage may be a disposable chamber. The disposable chamber may have many different shapes, such as a box, a cylinder, or a sphere, and one skilled in the art will readily recognize that other known three-dimensional shapes may also be employed for the disposable chamber.

The disposable chamber may be made of: plastic (including but not limited to polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or high density polyethylene), metal such as steel, stainless steel, or aluminum, or other materials such as glass, ceramic, composite, or other polymers. The disposable chamber may be made of recyclable materials, such as recyclable plastic or aluminum, which allows the chamber to be recycled after it is used to prepare a beverage.

In some preferred embodiments of the invention, the disposable chamber has an internal partition as described above that divides the chamber into first and second portions. The transparent portion of the exterior of the disposable chamber allows a user to view the interior of the second portion of the disposable chamber, while the opaque interior partition prevents viewing of the first portion.

In some of these preferred embodiments of the invention, the first portion of the disposable chamber contains a concentrated beverage. The concentrated beverage may be in solid or liquid form and may be carbonated or otherwise pressurized. Those skilled in the art will recognize that a variety of beverages may be concentrated, pressurized and packaged in the disposable beverage preparation chamber of the present invention. For example, the concentrated beverage of the present invention may be alcoholic or non-alcoholic beer (including ale and lager), cider, wine, malt-based beverage, fermented beverage, cider-based beverage, spirit, fruit juice, syrup, carbonated or non-carbonated soft drink, coffee or tea.

The disposable beverage preparation chamber may contain a pressurized gas in addition to the concentrated beverage itself. In an embodiment of the invention, gas is injected under pressure into the disposable chamber, and the chamber is then sealed. Various types of gases may be used to pressurize the concentrated beverages of the present invention, including but not limited to one or more of carbon dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and nitrous oxide. In these embodiments, the pressurized gas is dissolved into the concentrated beverage.

In addition to the portion of the disposable chamber containing the concentrated beverage and the portion of the chamber having the transparent viewing window, the disposable formulation chamber may have additional portions containing one or more additional flavors or ingredients for the beverage. Examples of suitable flavor ingredients include, but are not limited to, spice flavors, fruit flavors, hop flavors, malt flavors, nut flavors, smoke flavors, other suitable flavors (e.g., coffee flavors or chocolate flavors), and mixtures of such flavors. The disposable beverage preparation chamber may also contain other solid or liquid concentrate ingredients, such as hops concentrates, fruit concentrates, sweeteners, bittering additives, concentrated flavors, foaming promoters, concentrated malt-based liquids, concentrated fermented liquids, concentrated beer, colorants, flavoring additives, alcohol, and mixtures thereof.

In some embodiments of the invention, the disposable beverage preparation chamber contains enough concentrated beverage to prepare only a single serving of beverage. Thus, in a) inserting a disposable beverage preparation chamber into the device; b) wherein the concentrated beverage is mixed with a liquid; and c) after the user of the device views through the transparent window to see the beverage being prepared and dispensed, the disposable chamber is removed from the device and discarded or recycled.

In other embodiments of the invention, the disposable beverage preparation chamber contains sufficient concentrated beverage to prepare multiple servings of beverage. In these embodiments, the disposable beverage chamber may be used, for example, to prepare a pot of beer, or alternatively, may be reused multiple times to prepare and dispense several cups of beer, which are then removed and replaced with a new disposable preparation chamber. In various embodiments of the present invention, the size of the disposable beverage preparation chamber may vary. The size of the disposable beverage preparation chamber may depend, for example, on the type of concentrated beverage contained in the chamber, or the serving size of the beverage prepared from the concentrated beverage contained in the chamber.

In some embodiments of the invention, at least a portion of the housing of the disposable beverage preparation chamber is permeable, allowing liquid to enter the chamber to mix with the concentrated beverage contained therein and/or allowing the prepared beverage to exit the chamber and be dispensed. In other embodiments of the invention, the shell housing of the beverage chamber is impermeable and must be pierced to allow liquid to enter the chamber to mix with the concentrated beverage contained therein and/or to allow the prepared beverage to exit the disposable container and be dispensed. In embodiments where the disposable chamber contains an internal barrier or partition, the partition may be permeable (e.g., a very fine mesh material that appears opaque to the human eye but allows liquid to flow through the mesh) or may be pierced/torn to allow the ready beverage to flow within the container.

In some preferred embodiments of the present invention, the housing of the disposable chamber protects the concentrated beverage contained therein by preventing external light from entering the chamber and oxygen and other gases from entering the chamber.

For example, ultraviolet light having a wavelength of 200 to 400 nanometers (particularly 280 to 340 nanometers) can degrade the iso α acid in hops (a portion of beer), as can visible blue light (wavelengths of 340 to 500 nanometers) in the presence of riboflavin (which naturally occurs in beer).

To prevent light from entering the housing of the chamber through the transparent window, the window may be covered with a removable opaque material, such as a film or foil, that covers the transparent portion of the chamber and may be peeled off or otherwise removed when the chamber is used to prepare a beverage. The film or foil may be constructed of materials known to those skilled in the art, such as aluminum foil, and may be covered with a light-resistant coating similar to the housing of the chamber itself. Like the disposable chamber, the removable film/foil may also be recyclable.

Similarly, as is known to those skilled in the art, oxygen and other gases may also react with concentrated beverages (particularly concentrated beer), which may adversely affect the flavor of the beverage. To prevent oxygen and other gases from entering the chamber, the housing of the chamber may be impermeable to oxygen or other gases. For example, the exterior of the disposable chamber may be coated with ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH), nylon, aluminum, or another inorganic oxide that prevents oxygen from permeating into the chamber.

In some embodiments of the invention, the disposable chamber contains an oxygen scavenger that actively consumes oxygen in the chamber and prevents it from reacting with the concentrated beverage and/or other flavors and ingredients in the chamber. In various embodiments of the present invention, the oxygen scavenger may be a sulfite or sulfonic acid, an iron complex, a cobalt complex, ferrous carbonate, ascorbate, sodium bicarbonate, or an oxygen scavenging polymer. In certain embodiments of the invention, the oxygen scavenger is a polyester composition comprised of a mixture of a thermoplastic polyester (e.g., polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene naphthalate), a cobalt salt (e.g., cobalt stearate, cobalt neodecanoate), ethylene glycol, and pyromellitic dianhydride. In these embodiments, the cobalt salt actively promotes oxidation of the polyester composition, causing the composition to behave as an active oxygen scavenger.

In embodiments where at least a portion of the outer shell of the disposable chamber is permeable, these one or more permeable portions of the shell may similarly be covered with a removable film or foil to help prevent light and/or gas from entering the disposable chamber and reacting with the beverage ingredients contained therein.

Examples

The following prophetic examples describe potential embodiments of the invention:

example 1: fig. 1 and 2 show an exemplary apparatus 100 for preparing a beverage. In this exemplary embodiment, the apparatus 100 has a circular viewing window 110 located at the front of the apparatus 100 that allows a user to see the beverage being prepared within the apparatus 100 before it is dispensed from the dispenser 120. The circular viewing window 110 is a wall of a chamber for preparing a beverage located inside the apparatus 100, and the window 110 allows a user to view the inside of the chamber to see the beverage being prepared.

Example 2: recyclable cylindrical pod for the preparation of beverages. The recyclable pod is constructed of recyclable plastic and has an opaque plastic divider that divides the interior of the pod into two separate compartments. The first chamber contains concentrated carbonated high gravity beer. The recyclable pod is inserted into the apparatus for preparing the beverage and the wall of the first chamber is pierced, causing carbonated water to enter the first chamber and mix with the concentrated beer, thereby producing drinkable beer. The partition between the first and second chambers is then punctured, allowing beer to flow into the second chamber. One of the outer circular walls of the second chamber is constructed of a clear plastic so that a user can see the prepared beer flowing into the second chamber through a window formed by the clear plastic. The clear plastic window is covered with aluminum foil which can be peeled off when the pod is used to allow the user to see inside the chamber. The beverage is then dispensed from the second chamber and the device.

Example 3: recyclable box capsule for the preparation of beverages. The recyclable capsule is constructed of recyclable aluminum and has two opaque aluminum dividers (the dividers include a fine mesh that appears opaque but permeable to liquid) that divide the interior of the capsule into three separate compartments. The first chamber contains concentrated beer, the second chamber contains one or more flavouring ingredients for the beer, and the third chamber has a transparent plastic window as one of its walls, allowing a user of the capsule to view the interior of the third chamber while the beer is being prepared. The transparent rectangular window is covered by a recyclable plastic film that can be peeled off the window to allow the user to view the inside of the third chamber while the beverage is being prepared in the recyclable capsule. When the concentrated beer is mixed with carbonated water, the capsule contains enough concentrated beer to provide multiple servings of beer.

Embodiments and prophetic examples of the present invention have been described for illustrative purposes. It will be recognized by those skilled in the art from this disclosure that the described embodiments and prophetic examples are not limiting, and may be practiced with modification and alteration limited only by the spirit and scope of the appended claims, which are intended to cover such modifications and alterations so as to provide broad protection to various embodiments of the present invention and equivalents thereof.

Claims

1. Apparatus for preparing a beverage, comprising:

a housing;

at least one liquid source; and

a dispenser for dispensing a beverage; and is

Wherein at least a portion of the exterior of the apparatus is transparent and at least a transparent portion of the exterior of the apparatus comprises a transparent wall of a chamber for preparing the beverage,

wherein the chamber for preparing the beverage comprises a first chamber and a second chamber, and the first chamber and the second chamber are separated by a partition.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transparent portion is rectangular.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transparent portion is circular.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the chamber for preparing the beverage is connected to the dispenser for dispensing the beverage.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one liquid source is a source of carbonated liquid.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the chamber for preparing the beverage is an integral part of the housing.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the chamber for preparing the beverage is connected to a mixing chamber for mixing the liquid and concentrated beverage.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the liquid and concentrated beverage are mixed in the chamber for preparing a beverage.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the divider is opaque.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the liquid and concentrated beverage mix in the first chamber and the transparent portion is a transparent wall of the second chamber.

11. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the chamber for preparing the beverage is self-cleaning.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the chamber comprises a biocidal coating.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the biocidal coating comprises a metal.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the metal is copper or silver.

15. The apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising at least one device for cleaning the chamber for preparing the beverage.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the at least one means for cleaning the chamber for preparing the beverage cleans the chamber by heating, rinsing or sterilizing the chamber.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the at least one means for cleaning the chamber cleans the chamber by sterilizing the chamber with ultraviolet light.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transparent wall is constructed of a material selected from the group consisting of glass, plastic, and polymer.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the chamber for preparing the beverage and the dispenser face a single face of the apparatus.

20. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the chamber for preparing the beverage is a disposable chamber that is removable from the appliance and replaceable with a new disposable chamber.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the disposable chamber contains a concentrated beverage.

22. The apparatus of claim 20, further comprising a piercing device for piercing an exterior of the disposable chamber to allow the liquid to enter the disposable chamber.

23. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the disposable chamber is capable of preparing a single serving of beverage.

24. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the disposable chamber is capable of preparing multiple servings of beverage.

25. A disposable container for preparing a beverage, comprising:

a housing; and

a first chamber containing a concentrated beverage;

wherein at least a first portion of the housing is transparent,

wherein at least a second portion of the housing is a permeable portion.

26. The disposable container of claim 25, further comprising a second chamber;

wherein the first and second chambers are separated by an opaque partition; and is

The transparent first portion of the housing is a wall of the second chamber.

27. The disposable container of claim 26, further comprising a third chamber containing at least one flavor.

28. The disposable container of claim 25, wherein the concentrated beverage is a solid or liquid concentrated beverage.

29. The disposable container of claim 28, wherein the concentrated beverage is a carbonated concentrated beverage.

30. The disposable container of claim 25, wherein the second portion of the outer shell is liquid permeable.

31. The disposable container of claim 25, wherein the first chamber further comprises an oxygen scavenger.

32. The disposable container of claim 25, wherein the housing blocks light transmission into the disposable container.

33. The disposable container of claim 25, wherein the outer shell is gas impermeable.

34. The disposable container of claim 32, wherein the outer shell is impermeable to oxygen.

35. The disposable container of claim 25, further comprising a removable opaque material covering the first portion of the outer shell.

36. The disposable container of claim 35, wherein the removable opaque material is a film or foil.